1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455 Is The Real Deal

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This is no tribute car.

While many falsely believe American muscle cars died around 1971, real enthusiasts know there were still some solid performers sticking around after that. Perhaps the most legendary of those is this 1974 Pontiac Trans Am SD-455. If you’re looking to acquire one, you have to be careful of the many tribute cars out there. This one is authentic and is being auctioned off by Motorsport Auction Group – more about that later on.

First, know that Pontiac only made 943 Firebird and Trans Am Super Duties for the 1974 model year. A mere 212 came with the 455 Super Duty and a manual transmission. This powertrain isn’t just desirable because of its rarity. Each V8 was built by hand and was essentially a race engine. That meant Pontiac had them built off the assembly line, adding to the cost significantly. At a time when automakers were detuning their powerful V8 engines in the face of tight emissions regulations and oil shortages, Pontiac was bucking the trend and catering to enthusiasts.